Michael Wear: Finding Purpose in Politics and Faith
Feeling burned out by outrage culture and partisan spin? President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life Michael Wear joins Steve Cuss to chart a bold, faith-rooted path through today’s political chaos. Together, they unpack how Christians can reclaim civic agency through local action, community impact, and love-fueled political engagement. Michael’s sharp insights will challenge listeners to move beyond despair and toward a redemptive, grounded vision of faith and politics.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
The Center for Christianity and Public Life
Michael Wear’s The Spirit of Our Politics
Michael Wear’s Reclaiming Hope
Irresistible Church Network
The Morning Five with Michael Wear (podcast)
The Bulletin (podcast)
Congregation Land Campaign
The work of opinion columnist Ross Douthat (New York Times)
The work of opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie (New York Times)
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41:45
Dancing with Doubt, the Past, and Temporary Sacred Spaces
Lisa’s back! Join host Steve Cuss and the therapist he turns to with his own questions – his wife. They examine some of Steve’s recent conversations about the intricate dance between faith and doubt. Drawing insights from guests like Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw and Dr. Jennifer Ripley, they explore how doubt can serve as a catalyst for spiritual growth. Unpack the ways childhood attachment styles influence our adult relationships with God and others, and offer practical ways the church can support those in crisis. Tune in for a conversation that promises to deepen your understanding of faith's complexities and inspire meaningful discussions anywhere doubt tries to co-mingle with faith.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Jennifer Ripley’s Ministering to Families in Crisis
Cyd & Geoff Holsclaw’s Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection
Frederick Buechner: Faith Despite Doubt
Frederick buechner’s defines Doubt
Philip Yancy: Faith and Doubt
Philip Yancy: A Time to Doubt
N.T. Wright’s The Resurrection of Jesus as a Historical Problem
N.T. Wright’s The Resurrection of the Son of God
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) The Great Commission
Further Listening:
Inviting Doubt to Deepen Your Faith Experience
Finding Freedom in Temporary Spaces
Jen Ripley: Supporting Mental Health Without Sacrificing Your Well Being
Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw: How Your Past Shapes You and Wounds Others
Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:
Capable Life Newsletter
Finding Freedom in Temporary Spaces
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Capable Life Intensives
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39:10
Glenn Packiam Tells What’s Missing From the Global Church
What happens when the Nicene Creed collides with TikTok theology? Host Steve Cuss and pastor-author Glenn Packiam unpack how this historic confession still anchors Christian identity in a digital age obsessed with individual “truth.” They explore the tension between personal experience and historic orthodoxy, the global church’s diverse voices, and why real unity starts in community—not algorithms. Steve and Glenn offer hope for listeners wrestling back to a rooted, resilient Christianity that rises above cultural noise.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Glenn Packiam’s What's a Christian, Anyway?: Finding Our Way in an Age of Confusion and Corruption
The Nicene Creed as stated in The Online Book of Common Prayer
Glenn Packiam's website
Follow Glenn Packiam on instagram
Books by Glenn Packiam
Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:
Capable Life Newsletter
Join Steve at an upcoming intensive:
Capable Life Intensives
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36:24
Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw: How Your Past Shapes You and Wounds Others
What if your earliest relationships are still shaping your faith today? With this in mind, Steve Cuss sits down with Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw to explore how attachment theory influences our connection to ourselves, others, and God. From insecure attachment styles and coping mechanisms to trauma, church culture, and spiritual growth, Steve and the Holsclaws dive deep into the psychology behind our relational patterns—and how self-awareness and God’s love can lead to healing. Listen and join Steve as you navigate closeness or independence, maybe even rethink your faith journey.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
The Pool of Siloam, Where Jesus Healed the Blind Man
Cyd & Geoff Holsclaw’s Center for Embodied Faith
Cyd & Geoff Holsclaw’s Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection
Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Sign up for Steve’s Newsletter & Podcast Reminders:
Capable Life Newsletter
Join Steve at an upcoming intensive:
Capable Life Intensives
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From Christianity Today, Being Human with Steve Cuss is Christian counseling in podcast form. Steve Cuss, a former trauma and hospice chaplain, pastor, and leadership coach, guides listeners with a gospel-informed journey of discovery into the world of emotional health: everything from anxiety and reactivity, to triangulation, overfunctioning, and the Enneagram.
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